Automatic checker.



E. B. RODMAN.

AUTOMATIC GHECKER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 2s, 1910.

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Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

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YB. B. RODMAN. AUTOMATIG GHBGKER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 26, 1910.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

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EEIIIIIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA BUDD RODMAN, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC CI-IECKER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRA BUDD RODMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portsmouth, in the count-y of Norfolk and State of Virginia,have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Checkers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a checking device and more particularly to theclass of automatic tallying apparatus.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device inwhich articles may be counted in successive order as the same are beingloaded upon a vessel, or a wagon or other like vehicle, thus obviatingthe necessity of a person keeping tally upon such articles when beingloaded.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter in which an indicator will be automatically operated as thepackages or other articles are being conveyed in a chute into a vehicle,vessel or the like, the articles being tallied in successive order, thusobviating the necessity of an attendant for counting the articles beingconveyed in the chute.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus ofthis character in which a trip device has connection with an indicatorso that each article striking or contacting` with the trip will actuatethe same thereby registering the number of articles being delivered intoa vessel, wagon or other transporter.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatusof this character which is simple in construction, capable of beingmounted upon a chute, trough or other like conveyer and that isthoroughly reliable and efficient in operation and inexpensive inmanufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will belhereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a chute withthe invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the chute. Fig.4- is a sectional view on the line i-4C of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters are employed Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed October 26, 1910.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

Serial No. 589,172.

to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 5

designates a chute which may be of any ordinary well known construction,preferably comprising a slide-board 6 having at its oppositelongitudinal edges vertical guide walls 7, the chute being of anydesirable length and onto which are adapted to be delivered filled bags,boxes or other containers, the latter being adapted to be conveyed intoa wagon, vessel or other transporting device. Formed centrally at anydesired point relative to the length of the said chute is provided anelongated slot 8, the same being disposed longitudinally of the saidboard and near one end of this slot 8 are provided bearing recesses 9,which are engaged by laterally extending trunnions 10 projecting fromthe opposite sides of a trip lever, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. This trip lever comprises a bar 11, the same being bent toprovide a rearwardly inclined nose portion 12 and downturned arms 13 and14, respectively, the same being eX- tended through the slot S, the arm18 being connected with one end of a pull-rod or pit man 15, which isconnected to an indicator, as will be more fully hereinafter described.The arm 1st is designed to form a guide for the trip lever.

Secured to the underface of the board G is a bracket 1G, the latterbeing mounted contiguous the slot 8 therein, and tothis bracket 16 isconnected one end of a retractile spring 17, the opposite end of whichbeing connected to the rod 15, the spring 17 being adapted to sustainthe nose portion 12 of the trip member protruded above the upper face ofthe chute.

The arm 14 of the trip member is designed to engage in the slot 8 forguiding the said trip member in its movements when a bag, package or thelike strikes the said member. It is, of course, to be understood thatwhen a bag, package or the like passes over the nose portion 12 of thetrip member, the latter is depressed downwardly within the slot 8 in thechute 5. Bridging the said slot 8 in the chute 5 is a stop bar 27, whichlatter limits the downward movement of t-he trip member when beingengaged by a bag, package, box or the like.

In the underface of the board 6 of the chute spaced at any desirabledistance from the slot 8 is a suitable recess in which is mounted theeasing 19 of a register or recording device of any ordinary well knownconstruction, the latter being bolted, as at 20, to the said chute andto its actuating arm 2l is pivotally connected, as at 22, the rod orpitman 15, the same being passed and adapted to work through a guideloop 23 fixed to the underface of the chute. be observed that when thetrip member is depressed by a package, bag, box or the like the rod orpitman l5 will be pulled, thus moving the actuating arm 2l of theindicator, which latter will tally in successive order each article,namely, box, bag, or package, passing downwardly upon the chute.

rlhe chute 5 is provided with the usual transparent panels 24: whichenables the reading of the numbered dial 25 of the indi" cator, thus thedial may be readily visible so that the total sum of articles passingdownwardly upon the chute may be determined at will.

Bridging the recess 9 in the chute 5 are plates 26, the latter beingsecured to the board 6 and serve to retain the trunnions l()l of thetrip member j ournaled in said recesses.

It will be noted that by reason of the particular formation of the noseportion of the trip member', that is to say, by being rearwardlyinclined, the said trip member will not impede or interrupt the travelof the goods upon the chute when being loaded into a wagon, vessel orlike transporting medium, however, each package, bo-x or other articlepassing over the trip member will automatically operate the indicatorfor tallying such articles.

lt is clearly obvious that the device may be utilized for checkingfreight delivered from a car or cars to a dray, wagon, or the like, orwhen freight is taken from a car and delivered into a truck, whichlatter is adapted to transport it from the said car to any desirablepoint.

It will l Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new isz* l. The combination with a chute board having an elongated slotmedially disposed longitudinally therein, of a trip device comprising abar bent to provide an inwardly inclined nose portion and downturnedarms, one of said arms being movably engaged in said slot, insetbearings on the upper face of the chute board at opposite sides of theslot and arranged at the rear end of the latter, laterally extendingpivot lugs formed on the bar near its rear end and engaging saidbearings, an indicator fixed to the under-face of the board, and havinga pull. rod connected with the rearmost arm on the said bar, and meansconnected with the board and with said pull rod for normally holding thenose port-ion of the bar protruded above the upper face of the chuteboard.

2. The combination with a chute board having an elongated slot mediallydisposed longitudinally therein, of a trip device comprising a bar bentto provid-e an inwardly inclined nose portion and downturned arms, oneof said arms being movably engaged in said slot, inset bearings on theupper face of the chute board at opposite sides of the slot and arrangedat the rear end of the latter, laterally extending pivot lugs formed onthe bar near its rear end and engaging said bearings, an indicator fixedto the under-face of the board, and having a pull rod connected with therearmost arm o-n the said bar, a bracket iixed to the underface of thechute board, and a retractile spring connected with said bracket and apull rod for normally sustaining the nose port-ion of the bar elevatedabove the upper face of the chute board.

In testimony whereof l ailix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

EZRA BUDD RODMAN.

Witnesses TOMAS HILL, HARRY LEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

